Typographical distributing machine



' June l0, 193,0.

TYPOGRAPHI CAL DI S`TRIBUT ING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

A TTO EYI J. R. ROGERS 1,762,889

y.lune 1o, 1930. J. R. RoGRRs 1,762,889y

TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE vFiled Nov. 2v, '1928 2 sheets-sheet' 2 y I N VEN TOR.

ATTO EY! Patented June. 10, 1930 `UNVrE-D-'STATis-js {PA-TENT iOFFICE t JOHN R. ROGERS. OE BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK, AssIGNoR-'ro MERGENTHALER LrNo- TYPE COMPANY,A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK Y,

TYroGRAPHIcAL. DVISTRIBUTING .MACHU-vnly Appiicationied November y27, 192s.. seriai N'. 322,115..

This invention relates v'-to typographical distributing machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, 5l No. 436,532, wherein circulatingmatrices are released from4 a magazine in the order in which their characters are toappear in'prin't and then assembled in line, the, composed line transferred to the face Oi' a mold, the'mold o iilled with nioltenmetal to form a slug or` linotype againstthe matrices whichproduce the type characters thereon, and the matrices l*thereafter returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from ywhich they if; started. In some machines,A suclias the commercial model 9,f where matrices may "be drawn from several magazines and mixed together in the saine line, the distributing mech-Y anismviiicludes a primaryl distributor which so first sorts the matricesaccording to font, and

a plurality of main distributors which thereafter sort the matrices of the individual fonts according to character and restore them to .their proper channels Vin theV maga-Zines.v

e5 YNith this type of `distributing mechanisim the matrices, after font separatioinpass down chutes or tubes and enter so-called lower distributorbox'es wherein they are lguided upon inclined rails into engagement with lreciprocating p'awls or escapements,A which feed them one at a tiine to the main distributors. In order that these pawls or escapemen'ts may co operate properly with the matrices, the latseparation and escape'of the 'gravitating ter are usually provided in their bottomedges o The present invention is intended to obvi-` ate the foregoing diiiculties and contemplatesA certain improvements wherebythe distributing mechanismV may receive and vhandle matrices of all` fonts 'whether' they have oi" have not the objectionable central notches re- '5,'

' ferred to.' vTo this end, each of the lower -dis-V z tributor boxesy is provided' with anfescapement device arranged preferably to cooper` ate with the upper ends of the matrices,`and which device not only serves itspriina'rypurpose of feeding the matrices one by one 'to the i distributor screws, butalso acts VtoV accelerate the delivery of the individual 'matrices to the screws.` In the preferredl embodimentillustrated, there isemployed afsingle .vertically reciprocating member presenting matrix arrestingand releasing dogs arrangedto opferate in offset parallelpla-nes varid adapted by the recipro'cation 'of saidinember'to eife'ct the 'matrices in the-manner required."

- In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been" shown merelyl in preferredl form and byway'of example, andas applied to the speci'iic type'ot' distributing mechanism indicated.v However, many fclianges and Vvariations may be made therein and in its inode of application, which will 'still' be ycomprised within itsA spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that' the'invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except .insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims. Y

,Referring to the drawings Y l is a rear Aelevation ofthe receiving end 85 oal multiple distributor showing the lower distributor box broken 'away and equipped With the present improvements; y J Fig. 2 is a face View of anordinary matrix.

Figs. 3 andl 4 are fragmentarysections? throughthe lower ,box showing the escapement vdevice in different vpositions,duringfits operation, Fig.` 3 beinga section, taken on the lineB-.l-S of Fig. 6; y y

' Figf 5 is front elevation of the lowerbox detached; I y" i 6 is a horizontalsection taken'on line (Se-:G et' Fig. 3; and-` 7 Figs. 7 and 8 areiface and edge views, re-

spectively, of the improved escapement device detached.

After casting, the inatriX line is trans` ported to the upper distributor box A where the individual matrices are successively detached from 'the line by the lifting finger A1 for delivery to the upper or lower distributor, according to the font to which they belong. The two distributors are identical in construction, each comprising a longitudinally ribbed bar B and a set of conveying screws B1 which carry the matrices therealong. After the matrices are detached from the line, they are presented to thevconveying screws B1 of the upper distributor but, before they reach the corresponding distributor bar B, they'are subjected to the action of the font selecting bridge C, which is adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of the matrices and control their delivery according to font Ato the upper or lower distributor. The matrices X are of the usual construction, eachbeing formed at its'four corners'with the projecting ears a and at its upper end with the il-shaped notch acl having the distributing teeth m2. the'matrices of one front (those delivered to the lower distributor) are formed at their lower ends with the ordinary front notches 003,

while the matrices of the other font (those delivered to the upper distributor) are without the notches w3 or have them located in a different position along their bottom edges. Consequently, when the matrices are presented to the selecting bridge C, those witl out the font notches are supported by said bridge at such level that their distributing teeth rc2 are caused to engage'the upper distributor'bar B while those of the other font, duev to the presence of the notches x3, straddle the bridge C and drop to a lower level so that their distributing teeth will avoid engagement withv the upper distributor bar. These latter n'xatrices, when straddling the selecting bridge, are supported by their upper projecting ears upon the guide rails A and are carried along these rails and dropped into the chute Cl'leading downwardiy'to the lower distributor box D. The matrices pass by gravity through the box D, wherein they are supported by the inclined rails D1, and are fed one by one under the control of an escapement into the threads of the conveying screws B1 of the lower distributor, whence they are ycarried along the associated bar B for inal time introy yposition toV be pickedV up bv the l screws irrespective of the presence or absence Vhold back the following matrices.

-of depending side arms E2 and an intermediate depending finger E3. The arms E2 are arranged alongside the outer side faces of the respective guide rails D1 and are formed at their lower ends of a pair of integral lugs E4, (Fig. 3), which project inwardly from said arms so as,'1n one position of the slide E, to be disposed above the upper edges of the guide railsin the path of the upper ears of the descending matrices, and so as, in another position of the slide, to be disposed. below therail edges out of the path of the matrices. In order to provide room for the lugs El, the

`outer side faces of the guide rails D1 are recessed or cut away at CZ, see Fig. 5. The finger ESs is offset in relation to the lugs Et and is adapted, as the slide E reciprocates, to accelerate the escape of the leading matrix and However, instead of cooperating with the ears of the matrices,`the finge-r E3 is arranged to engage the matrices atl the bot-tom ofv thev V-shaped distributing notch x1, but its relation to the lugs Et is such that, when the slide E is `moved downwardly from its upper position (shown in Fig. 3), the rear face of the linger will pass in front of a succeeding matrix, and as the top edges of the lugs E4 become flush with'the guiderails'Dl, the lower edge of the finger is 'caused to engage the leading matrix at the pointstated and thus to hasten its escape to the screws. rvWhen the slide is moved upward-ly, the linger is carried above the bottom of the notch m1 of what was the succeeding matrix and allowsit to slip forwardly against the lugs E4, the latter in the meantime having moved above the guide rails D1. The cooperation of the linger G with the matrices is facilitated by the presence of 'the customary central slot a# cut in the rear face of each'matrix`v as shown in Figs. 3 and 4f, and which is adapted to receive the linger as the slide E is depressed. As is well understood in the art, these cent-rally located slots are intended toA provide at the upper ends of the matrices at the bottom of the distributing notches w1 portions of uniform thickness which, in cooperationV with the usual separator bar or blade located at the exit end of the upper distributor box, prevent more'than one matrix at a time from being elevated from the composed lined bv the lifting finger A1. It `is with these uniform portions that 'the linger E3 is adapted to engage.

The finger E- and lugs E4 thus constitute upper andlower matrix arresting and releas- .D2 adjacent the ear E1 ing dogs. operating in adjacent parallel planes, the lowergdogs E'4 havngtheir rear or matrix contacting facesdisposed in a verticalplane which is'slightly in advance of the corresponding face of the upper ydog E3. When the reciprocatingslide E.v occupies its upperposition (as shown in Fig. 3) thelower dogs E4 stand `partially above the upper edgesof the guide rails D1 to engage the lower 'ends ofthe Vupper e'arsof the matrices; whereas, when the slide isv in'its lower Yposition (Fig. 4) ,-s'ai'ddogs stand below, the rail edges to allow thjeA matrices tofpassover'the saine on `their way to the screws. 1n this connection, it may be observed'that the top faces of the lu'gsE4 are beveled Vor inclined to correspond ,with` the inclination of the upper edges vof the vguide rails D1. The upper dog or nger E3, on the other liand,stands clear of the descending matrices in the upper p0- sition of the slide E, but moves downwardly .with the slide intoY the path 0f Ia matrix. as

the .upper edges of the the lugs E4 pass below guide rai-ls. Vith this arrangement, as the slide1`E is raised a matrix will be released by the upper dog E3. and allowed to'ks'lip Aforwardly 'against the lower dogs E4, vwhich at such time arefabove the rails in position `to engage the lower ends Qfits-upperprOjeCting ears ,L vbut ont-he return movement ofthe slide, said matrix will `be free to pass over the dogs Effwliile theupper dog E3 holds :back the nextsucceeding matrix.

In order to compensate for slight differences in thedept'h of vthe Adistributing notches m1 in various matrices, which is due to .carelessness in cutting the transverse clear-ance notch mi (Fig. 2) located 4'at the bottom of the combination web,`the finger E3 is .mounted in the slide E so as to be capable of .yield-` ing Aifertically when it engages the leading matrix. provided with an offset cylindrical portion G1 which ismo-unted for vertical movement in a recess rE7 formed in the bottom .of the slide E and which is .sustained therein by means of a pin and slot connection G2, the finger being held resiliently downward in -a normal position by a light compression springGrs arranged in therecess E7 above the cylindrical portion G2.

The *means employed for operating 'the slide E (see Figs. l, 3 Vand (i) include arock shaft LF journaled transversely in the" block .before mentioned. Atone'end, the shaft F projects through the rear side wall ofthe block D2 where it is provided with a crank arm Fhand between the twojside walls :of said block, thefshaft has vfast thereto a xed sleeve'F 2 formed -with a .pair of shoitl horizontally disposedl lever arms F2. These arms F3 embracer the 'ear "E1 and are loosely connected rthereto'by a cross pin e which extends tlirough'tlieearand enga-ges in open slots f 'formed intheends of 'cr-ank arm F1 In the present instance, the finger is the crank arm F1 1s actuated by the rocker arm A3 of the lifting finger A1 for the-upper Y distributor box A through sui-tablelinkconnections carried by the block D2, the arm A? being inturnoperatedn thecustomary way by the rotary cam prise a vertically disposed link member F pivotally fastened at its lower end to the and .abuttingatthe top against a depending fingerpiece A4 'secured to the rocker arm .A2 This particular form of brokenjoint Vpermits the -lower distributor boxfD and its escapement to be readily and instantlyremoved: from and replaced in the machine, as is desirable. .Since the rocker arm-A2 is capable of actuating-the shaftF in one direction only, namely, slijdeE., the rotation of .the shaft F5 :anchored to the box Dy rand connectedto the .longerarmF7 .of lever F6 which .is pivoted directly above thesliaft F tothe block K A andthe p ull springA"f. The said connections, see Figs. l and V5, coin,-A

VVto depress the inthe oppo- 'site direction is eifectedby a puljl spring D2. The Vother arm .F8 ofthis lever,.wh.ich is pivotally connected .to VtheV linkinember is arranged parallel to the crank arms F1, so that saidvlink member will Vbe sustained in a verticalposition at all times without other means of support.V Throughthese; connec-- .tions the reciprocat'ion ofthefslid'e lE is efectedzand controlled bythe ope-rationl ofthe rocker arm A3 and will therefore takev place at the required speed and V in synchronism with the'liftinfg iinge'r A1. Y'

According. to the foregoing varra'ngement vand assumingd parts to be in the position shown. in.F ig s .1l;andf3 with the Ylower do'gs'or lugs E4 intlieir arrestinglposition above the 'guide'rails'D it willfn'ow be seen that, as the 'linky memberF4 is depressed'by the arm A3,v

the shaft vF will be rotated and cause the lever y arms F3 to move the slide E downwardly lagainst the tension of the spring F5. When .the lugs E? become flush with the upper edges oftheguide rai-ls D1, the leadingmatrix will bel-free' to escape andthe :upper dog or finger j E2 will havebeen moved in fronty of thenext vsucceeding.,matrix (see Fig. 4). 'How ever due to the offset relation ofthe twol sets of dogs, the leading matrix in escaping will `be f:

.engaged and .depressed by theupper dogE3 .as the downward movement of the slide E is completed, .the dogE3 thus serving the double function ofaccelerating the escape of the leading matrixandholding back vthe follow-A Since the matrices varywidely ing matrices. infthicknessaccording to character andfont, .the horizontal .distance betweenthe rear vfaces' .of the respectivesets of dogs E3, E4', ismade .equal.tocar-:slightly 'less than the .thickness of aai the thinnest matrix, so that only one matrix at a time is allowed to escape tothe screws. On the return or upward stroke of the slide E. which is effected by action of the spring F5, 'under control of the rocker arm A3, the lugs' E* are moved upwardly into their arresting position above the guide rails D1 and the 'finger E3 out of engagement withwhat is now the leading-matrix, which, being thus released, is allowed to slide forwardly by Vgravity against the lugs Et. The spring ITS not only provides the required element of safety in the upward movement of the slide E, but it also serves to maintain the escapement device yieldingly in a convenient position when the box D is removed from the machine, the slide E at such time banking' at the top of the guideway D3 ofthe supporting block D2. It may also be observed, by reference to Fig. 1, that the arm A3 inl depressing the slidelE is actuated by its control spring A5, so that any danger of damage to the parts Y that might be caused by a matrix becoming wedged between the escapement lugs and the guide rails is avoided.

The removal of the lower distributor box D may beeffected in the usual manner, it being slidably mounted for endwise horizontal movement Vin a supporting Vbracket H detachably'connected by screws H1 to the lower distributor bar. Since a portion of the connections between the lifting finger A1 and the escapement slide E are mounted upon and carried by the removable box as abovedescribed, while the remaining portion ofthe connections (being connected to the operating lever A?) are mounted independently of the box, the removal and replacement of the box automatically breaks and makes an operative connection between the lifting finger and escapement slide. Y Y

As previously stated the invention has been shown herein only by way of example, and obviously it is susceptible of many modifications and variations without departing from its scope. Y

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: Y

l. In a typographical distributing mecha'- nism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, and an escapement device presenting upper and lower matrix arresting and releasing dogs movable rectilinear-ly and arranged to operate in Oifset vertical parallel planes in controlling the passage of the gravitating matrices one at a time into position to be picked up by the screws. Y

2. In a typographical distributing mechanism for handling matrices formed on their opposite edges with upper and lower projecting ears, and comprising 4a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, and an escapement device presenting a pair of vertically reciprocating dogs arranged to cooperate with the lower ends of the upper projecting ears of the matrices in controlling the passage of the matrices one at a time into position to be picked up by the screws. y

3. In a typographical distributing mechaism for handling matrices formed on their opposite edges with upper and lower projecting ears, and comprising a distributor bar and a of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward vthe screws, and an escapement device presenting upper and lower reciprocating dogs for controlling the passage of the gravitating matrices one'at a time into position to be picked up by the screws, an upper dog being arranged to engage the upper ends of the matrices, and the lower dogs arranged to engage the lower ends'of the upper projecting ears of said matrices.

t. In a typographical distributing mechanism for handling matrices formed on their opposite edges with upper and lower proj ecting ears and comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, and an escapement device presenting upper and lower matrix arresting and releasing dogs movable rectilinearly and arranged to operate in odset parallel planes in controlling the passage of the gravitating matrices one at a time into position to be picked up by the screws, an upper dog being arranged to engage the upper ends of the matrices and the lower dogs arranged to engage the lower ends of the upper projecting ears of the matrices.

5. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, and an escapement device for controlling the passage of the matrices one at a time into position to be picked up by the screws, said device consisting of a vertically reciprocating member having'upper and lower matrix arresting and releasing dogs arranged in relatively fixed offset parallel planes.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5, characterized by the fact that the distance between the vertical planes of the upper and lower matrix arrestingy and releasing dogs therein referred to is equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the thinnest matrix, for the purpose described.

7.In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws,` and anv escapement device consisting of al verticallyl reciprocating member carrying two. setspf matrix arresting and releasing lugs arranged in relatively fixed offset parallel planes and adapted by the reciprocation of said member to alternately engage the matrices in controlling their passage one at a time into pou sition to be picked up by the screws.`

8. In al typographical distributing. mechanism for handling matrices centrally notched at their upper end and formed on theii'opposite edges Vwith upper and lower projecting x ears, said mechanism comprising a distributor bar yand a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of inclined guide rails along which Y the matrices gravitateY toward the screws, and an escapement device controlling the passage of the gravitating matricesvone at a time into position to be picked up by the screws, said device consisting of a vertiy cally reciprocating member provided at its opposite sides with a pair of integral lugs y or projections and with a centraldepending fingerv oset in relation thereto, the lugs in the upper position of said member acting to arrest the -leadingmatrix by engaging the lower ends of the upper projecting ears there, of and infthe lower position of the member standing clear of said matrix' to permit its Y escape, and the depending finger when said member is in its upper position standing clear of the descending matrices to permitV the Vleading matrix to be arrested by the lugs but downward stroke, the depending finger acts also to depress the leading matrix and ac-V celerate its escape. Y

l0. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combina. tion of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, an

escapeinent device presenting upper andv lower matrix arresting and Vreleasing dogs movable rectilinearly and arranged to operl ate in offset vertical parallel planes in controlling the passage of the gravitating matrices one at a time into rposition to be pi-cked up by the screws, a block wherein the escapement device is mounted, and means carried by the block for actuating said device.

11. In a typographical distributing mecha-Y nism comprising a distributor bar and a set'V of matrix conveying screws,`the combination of inclined guide rails along which the matrices gravitate toward the screws, an escape 'nations bewege f mest' device @freegee-ieeeeperatewith the Aupper endsof` tliemat f 'll' ee-iipbyth ereratns Sedjescarerm dence yieldineiy their v.iiibete-di1.Petters ,tf1- avoe ,damage te the ,Parts in tlieeveet ,0f a jammed matr-isf -i 12J-:In atyncgraphcal,distributingmedlenism', thecombinaton 'ofen 'uibpi ,distributor l having@ lifting meer fer 'feeding ai@ matrices Onset' a time thiefrem, @levier distlbiit'e'r bLQX haring' estaran-lent device "fier 'eitrlllle thPaSSag' Off 'the matres one a@ time, @heeren .sadiower distributo'iboxr and itsles c'apgenient deyce being removable'fromthe' i "e as ,e1/init, and, CQD- .ig i ifig im@ the escape'ment device'sa'id connections being l .Y

ranged toi be autematally fiedeahdbrken as the'lower distributor ljox p, W '1H and removed from the machine respectivelyl 18.' Inatypographical distributing mechanism, the combination of an upper distributor box 4having a lifting finger for feeding `the matrices one at a time therefrom, a lower distributor box having an escapem'ent device y w for controlling the passage of the matrices one at a time therefrom, sai-d lower distributor j i.

box and its escapement device being removable fromthe machine as a unit, and connections between the lifting finger and the es-v i' capement device, said 1 connections being mounted in part upon the lower distributor box and mounted in part independently thereof and arranged to permit the free and` unimpeded removal and replacement of said matrices.

14; A combinationcas specified in claim 8, s' I characterized by the fact that the central* depending linger therein referred to is niounted to yield vertically'in the reciprocating escapenient member, for the purpose described.

l5.4 An escapement slide for controlling the passage of matrices through the lower distributor box of a typographical distributing machine, `said slide ycomprising a. body portion, avpair of-arms depending therefrom at its opposite edges and spaced apart suiiiciently lto `a-llowaJ matrix to pass between them, said arms being formed at their lowerends with inwardly projectingY lugsadaptedto cooperate with the lower endsof theupper projecting ears of the matrices.

16. An escapement slide'forcontrolling the passage ofmatrices through theL lower dis-S tributor box of a typographical distributing machine', said slide comprising a body por tion, apair of arms depending therefrom at I its opposite edges and spacedapart sufficiently to allow a matrix to pass between them, Y

saidY arms being formed at theirlower ends with inwardly projecting lugs adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of the upper projectingears ofzthe matrices, and a member also carried yby the body portion in offset re# lation to said lugs and adapte-d to cooperate with the upper ends ofthe matrices.

17'.V An escapeinent slide for controlling thev passage of matrices through the lower distributor box of a typographical distributing machine, said slide comprising a body portion, a pair of arms depending therefrom at its opposite edges and spaced apart suiioient- Y ly to allow a matrix to pass between them,

said arms being formed at their lower ends with inwardly projecting lugs adapted to cooperate With the lower ends of the upper projecting ears of the matrices, and a centrally located finger also depending from the body portion and arranged in offset relation to said lugs and adapted to cooperate with the upper ends :of the matrices at the hase of the distributing notch formed therein. f

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by s JOHN R. ROGERS. 

